My Family Ocean Fishing Excursion in Florida

My Uncle Pete and I email often and swap fishing stories and talk about getting together to fish and trying to find the time to do it. Well, we found that time this year. I was planing on visiting my parents and sister in Florida this year with my son Kyle and my Uncle Pete and Aunt Ann just happened to be coming down to their house in Florida during the same time...so my Uncle Pete did not waste any time planning a fishing trip for us all to enjoy.

My Uncle Pete reserved a 6 hour fishing trip with Captain Phil Dugger Jr. of Podzilla Charters. Captain Phil is a full time U.S.C.G. licensed and fully insured guide who docks in Gasparilla Marina, which is located in Placida, on the southwest coast of Florida situated between Sarasota to the north and Ft. Myers to the south.

Gasparilla Marina is just minutes away from World Famous Boca Grande Pass and some of the best backwater fishing in the world. We fished the Back bay and Flats out of his 21 foot custom Shallow Sport that can run in less than 4 inches of water and will get anglers where the fish are at the lowest of tides. The design also allows for a very stable fishing platform and short tower (better to locate the fish)...and we were all about locating fish!

(My son Kyle with his 1st fish of the day)

Despite the Dolphins following our boat and circling around us waiting for fish to be released from our lines, We caught many fish such as; Sea Trout, Spanish Mackeral, Sting Rays, Lady Fish, Black Tip Shark, Button head Shark, Catfish, Mangroves, Jacks and other smaller species of fish. The weather had just started to get warm in Florida during our trip, apparently the winter months were very chilly this year, so the larger fish were not in the bay yet.

(Aunt Ann)                                                              (Uncle Pete)

Captain Phil is a Florida native and has over 35 years experience of light tackle saltwater fishing. He was very professional and always made sure we had bait on our lines (shrimp). We learned many things about the fish we caught such as; what fish have stingers, what fish bite, what fish poop all over the boat, what fish are good to eat and what are not. My son, Kyle really enjoyed asking the Captain questions about his business such as; has anyone ever fallen over board?....Has anyone lost a fishing pole to a fish in the water?....Has anyone just not listen to what they were being told?...Has anyone ever caught a barracuda?...etc...Kids ask the funniest questions and Captain Phil was very patient and answered them all.

(Sting Ray)

(Button Head Shark)

We all caught many fish this day...My Uncle Pete caught approx 15 1/2 fish...because a shark came up and bit off 1/2 of a sea trout he was trying to get into the boat. My Aunt Ann caught a sting ray and the button shark. My son, Kyle caught the black tip shark memories that will last his life time.

(we all caught fish)

(I caught an abundance of smaller fish)

I recommend you look Captain Phil up if you are in the area, and plan your own family fishing excursion.

(Captain Phil, Me, Kyle - infront of the fishing cleaning station - we kept some Sea

Trout and Spanish Mackeral for dinner that night - and Phil cut the fillets for us)

If you are interested in reserving a fishing trip with Captain Phil, please feel free to contct him in one of the following ways:


Website: http://podzillacharters.com/


Toll-Free: 1-800-774-0356

Local: 941-629-2708

Fax: 941-629-2708

E-mail: philduggerjr@podzillacharters.com



Mailing Address:

Capt. Phil Dugger Jr.,

21280 Edgewater Drive

Port Charlotte, FL 33952